The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-06-29
HOTEL cHAMeERMAlDs.
Interesting Information About Their
Duties, Privileges and Incomes.


Duties, Privileges and Incomes.
From conversation with an intel
ligent housekeeper of one of the
prominent hotels in New York a rep
resentative of the Graphic recently
CLEANED considerable information
about class Of women concerning
whom very little is known by the pub
lie at large-the hotel chambermaids.
When asked to give an estimate of the
total number of chambermaids em-
ployed in the hotels of New York, the
housekeeper replied that there were
just about as many of them as there
were soldiers in the Seventh regiment
and that they accomplished more with
their brooms and busters in a week
than the regiment could with their
rifles and swords and cannon. (Evi-
IDENTIFY this good dame does not love
the military The nationality of the
chambermaids, as a class, is Irish,
though occasionally a German
is found among them, and
still less frequently a
Swede. The latter have the highest
reputation as servants, and are in great
demand in private families. The ho-
tells obtain most of their chambermaids
at the agencies for servants, the adver-
Using plan having long since proven
nuisance, because SO many incompe-
tent and undesirable girls apply for the
vacancies. The wages of hotel cham
bermaids range from So to SIP month.
In nearly all cases they eat and sleep
in the hotel, and most houses will not
employ one who has family ties that
necessitates her absence at night. The
average time of service among this
class of servants is much greater than
is generally supposed. A hotel cham
bermaid who is faithful, competent and
honest, can almost always hold her po-
sition as long as she likes. In the ho-
tel whose housekeeper furnished this
information, there are several cham
bermaids whose record is fifteen years
and over. Three or four proprietors
have come and gone; but these faith
ful women have remained at their
posts, doing their work efficiently, and
thoroughly contented with their lot.
1t is not secret that tipping is very
general on the upper floors of hotel;
almost as prevalent, in fact as in the
dining-room. Between their wages
and these tips the chambermaids man
age to accumulate quite goodly sum
of money. Their wages are seldom
squandered; on the contrary, many Of
the girls have substantial bank ac-
counts, besides giving or sending a
portion of their earnings to aged par
ents or others partially dependent up
on them. There is considerable fa-
voritism among the patrons Of a hotel,
especially among the permanent
boarders, toward particular chamber
maids; and when one becomes favor
lite her tips are naturally larger and
more numerous. Boarders often in
sist upon having certain chamber
maid do their work because they have
tried her before and know her to be
honest and competent. As a class
these girls are reliable and can be
trusted. Accusations against them are
sometimes brought, but in
nearly every case where mon-
ey or articles have been
purloined from room it has been
shown to be the work of some sneak
thief. The systems in the large New
York hotels are nowadays SO perfect
that dishonest chambermaid is soon
discovered and cast out. AS a class,
too, these girls have good morals.
Nearly all Of them are Roman Cath
olics and regular attendants at church,
while many are charitable to fault.
There are usually no regulations as
to how the hotel chambermaids shall
dress, but each one takes pride in pre-.
senting as neat an appearance as pos.
sible, we'll knowing that she will prob.
ably be the gamer sooner or later by SC
doing. The Brevoort House employs
eight chambermaids, while the Fifth
Avenue Hotel requires forty. The
number at the other houses range be
tween these limits. The hours O
actual work are not long or tedious,
most of the girls finishing their GUS
tomary labors before three o'clock in
the afternoon. In addition to thes'
duties. however, is the nigh
watch, at which the girl
take turns. This night watcl
consists Of one girl on each floor a
large hotels, while at houses of smalle
size, two chambermaids are usual,
sufficient to constitute the night fore
for the entire building. This nigh
service is absolutely necessary, becaus
in a transient hotel rooms frequentl,
have to be changed and put in orde
for new occupants in the middle of tn
night or early in the morning. Whe
the daily duties are finished the girl
are generally at liberty to go ou1
Each always has at least one walkin
dress. and some appear on the street,
such trim attire that no one would tax
| them for domestics. Whenever
chambermaid is taken sick she is cart
fully looked after by the housekeepe7
and, if necessary, attended by til
hotels physician. If her disease is
a dangerous and contagious charactt
she is removed to hospital, an
properly treated therefor. IN y Grt
ph'c